Close monitoring of patients with GIST is essential. The aftercare intervals - every 3 to 6 months - depend on the risk groups, the methods of examination, the location of the primary tumour and the metastasis. The most important current methods of examination are the following: General body examination, sonography/ultrasound (limited!), blood analysis/lab values, and above all, CT scans (standard!) of the abdomen. Other examinations might also be applied, depending on the location and the degree of spread of disease, as well as its stage and therapy, as well as the general health situation of the patient.

Please note: In their own interest, GIST patients should insist on long-term and (depending on individual state of the disease) close monitoring. Even patients with localised GIST or who have completed adjuvant Imatinib therapy should undergo further follow-ups for well over 5 years, since relapses can still occur after many years.

adjuvant

Adjuvant treatment is a kind of "preventative therapy": After the complete removal of a tumor, adjuvant treatment is given as prophylaxis against recurrences. It aims to treat so called micro metastases that may be present but not yet visible, and therefore lower the risk of a recurrence. Adjuvant therapy is usually recommended for sarcoma patients, whose risk of recurrence – despite a successful operation – remains high.

GIST

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) affects the digestive tract or nearby structures within the abdomen. The most common location is the stomach. GI stromal tumor, or GIST cancer, is a sarcoma.